Ask Onix
US soldier's body found after disappearance during Morocco exercise
The US Army confirmed the recovery of 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, 27, who vanished last week during a joint military training operation in Morocco. His remains were located along the coastline near where he and another soldier went missing on 2 May.
Identification and recovery
Key, a platoon leader and air defence artillery officer from Richmond, Virginia, was found by a Moroccan military search team approximately one mile from the cliffs where the incident occurred. His body was discovered in the water close to the shoreline.
Ongoing search efforts
US and Moroccan forces continue to deploy ground, air, and maritime resources in the search for the second missing soldier. The operation remains active, with no further details released about the missing service member's identity or condition.
Tributes and condolences
Brig Gen Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, expressed the army's grief in a statement. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him," King said. "The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Family is grieving, and we will continue to support one another and 1st Lt. Key's family as we honor his life and service."
Circumstances of the incident
The soldiers were participating in African Lion 2026, an annual multinational military exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation between US forces, NATO allies, and African nations. The exercise spans multiple countries, including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
According to a preliminary report cited by CBS News, the two soldiers were hiking with a group to watch the sunset when one fell into the ocean. Other service members attempted a rescue by forming a human chain with their belts, but the effort failed. A second soldier then jumped in to assist the first, who reportedly could not swim. A wave immediately swept the rescuer away, prompting a third soldier to dive in. The third service member managed to return to camp alone after failing to locate the others.
It remains unclear whether Key was the initial soldier to fall or the one who attempted the rescue.
Next steps
Key's body has been transported to a local morgue and will be repatriated to the United States, the US Army confirmed. No additional information about the investigation or the status of the second missing soldier has been disclosed.
